A TV on the side of the room is set to news channels, and Cai turns to it abruptly, recognizing a voice. He walks over to it, and bends down a few feet from the screen. 

“As soon as Caden Imperos was chosen as the champion from Light, his once-divorced parents decided to get back together.” 

“What?” Cai asks, then lets go of my hand, his face pale. 

“They are now petitioning the government with their extensive financial resources to pardon their son, who was dubbed a national fugitive just two days ago for aiding in the escape of Olive Ferrum, a criminal who tried to kill the governor in cold blood.” 

“Maybe she could be useful,” The revolution’s leader whispers to another. Cai keeps his eyes glued on the screen. 

“We just want our son back,” A black-haired woman says to the camera, her arm in some stuck-up Light’s. His parents. The governor speaks with them as the camera turns back to the reporter. 

“The governor has just approved the motion to pardon Caden Imperos. Wherever he is, I certainly hope that he returns to his loving parents.” 

“Loving,” Cai mutters, shaking his head. The revolution’s leader clears his throat, from behind me.

“Well, now that he’s no longer a worthless criminal…” One of the armed guards grabs Cai’s arm and yanks him to his feet. “Throw him in a cell.”

“No!” I yell, trying to pull them off of him. Flint grabs me and pulls me away, as Cai is handcuffed. “Don’t touch me!”

“We can ask for ransom at the right time,” The leader tells his cohorts. “For now, keep him locked up, and bring the girl’s family here so they stay out of trouble.” More guards leave the room, taking Cai with them, and I fold my arms, staring at the door he left through. 

“This is why I hate it here,” I mutter, wriggling out of Flint’s grasp, and starting to leave the room. 

“Olive!” Flint shouts, chasing after me. “This rebellion will be good for the Island. You’ll see.” 

“Well, so far you’ve killed innocents, kidnapped one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, and left the city in ruins! Tell me what part of that sounds good!” Flint sighs. 

“There are some costs to getting what we want.” 

“If this is how we get what we want, I don’t want it any more.” 

“You’re being stubborn.” 

“Yeah. I am.” I keep walking, following where they’re taking Cai. “How did you get like this?” 

“Like what?” Is he really clueless about how much he’s changed in the past… how long has it been since we were friends, and he didn’t like me in a weird way? 

“Like this! With your demented, sick ideas of how things should be!” I sigh, and turn my back to him. “I know your mother would never have made you this way, so you must have gotten it from your dad!” Flint turns me to face him and he glares at me. 

“Don’t. Compare me. To him,” He says threateningly, holding onto my arm tightly. I try to wriggle out, but his grip is too strong as he pushes me against a wall. 

“Don’t act like him,” I demand, raising an eyebrow. 

“I’m not acting like him,” Flint defends. I laugh humorlessly. 

“Let go of me, or I’ll kill you,” I threaten. Flint loosens his grip on my arm. I start to walk around him, following where Cai went. An armed guard stops me on my way down the stairs. 

“Miss Ferrum, you need to come with us to collect your family.” They say. Austin and Isaiah join us downstairs, and stand next to me. I nod, and follow the guard, ignoring Flint staring down at me. 

“Where’s Cai?” Casey asks. 

“They took him for ransom,” I say. It’s my fault. 

“Actually, it was my fault. I activated your powers, thus getting him in trouble too. At least it made quite a show.” The voice in my head says, not even sounding sorry. I hug Casey, and tell our parents the news about us having to leave and live with the other Irons at the town hall. 

Mom gasps, and clutches the gems on golden chains at her throat. The rebels at the door push us out to vans. Jackson hugs his children close, Audra sobbing, and Adam watching the guards closely. Casey leans against my shoulder. 

I hope Cai’s okay. I think, as we pull up to the town hall. Guards escort us inside, and to an office which has been assigned to our family. They send Jackson and his kids next door in a smaller office. A cardboard box is placed on the carpet in the center of the room, and the door is closed. I pick up the piece of paper sitting on top of the box. 

Congratulations! You are one of the lucky few who have been saved by the rebellion to build the new Metal Island! The Lowest of the Low thank you. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS 

Curfew will start at 9:00 PM, and ends at 6:00 in the morning. No exceptions unless you have permission from the rebellion leader himself, Arthur Baughn. Meals will be served at 7-8 AM, 12-1 PM, and 5-6 PM. 

Uniforms are mandatory. 

Prison visiting hours are from 3-4 PM. 

Thank you for your cooperation. 

Inside the box are four folded uniforms, all dark gray and made of starchy material. Underneath the uniforms are some thin blankets and mattress pads. Sleeping on the floor, then. I hand everyone their uniforms and bedding, then walk to the adjoining bathroom with Casey to change. 

“It’s going to suck here, isn’t it?” Casey asks, pulling off her pink dress and putting it in the laundry basket they provided. 

“Yeah,” I say, and glance at the clock in the bathroom. It’s 10:00 in the morning, roughly. Visiting hours start at 3. I need to find Cai. I button up the gray jumpsuit, and walk out into the living room. 

“They took my jewelry!” Mom exclaims angrily, buttoning her uniform. “This is so much worse than when we were actually Irons.” I pick up the piece of paper again, and turn it over. 

On the back is a map of the purposes of all the floors. Top floor is leadership and stuff. The four floors below that are for residents like us, the bottom two are the cafeteria, and the training rooms for people joining the rebels. The basement is the prison. 

“I miss Olive,” Ember’s voice says, not far from where I walk. I follow the sound of her voice. 

“She’s actually back here, you know,” Flint says, near her. Ember gasps, cheering. 

“Really?” She squeals. “I can’t wait to see her! We left on such bad terms last week, and I really just want to hug her again. I hope we can all still be friends.” 

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. She hates us.” Flint, just stop. I think, coming closer to their voices. When Ember speaks again, her voice is sad. 

“Oh. I thought she wouldn’t be mad at me. I didn’t do anything wrong, I think,” She says. “Did I do anything wrong?” 

“Shut up, Em. You’re being annoying.” 

“Flint, that’s mean,” Ember says. “I don’t think she would be mad at me for anything I did.” Her voice gets thick with tears as her view of the situation shifts. “This is all my fault. I teased her so much that she hates me,” 

“Stop crying, Em. You’re being such a baby,” Flint says. 

“I’m not being a baby,” She sniffles. Flint scoffs. 

“You’re so weak. This is why you keep getting left out.” Ember sobs. “Stop crying! You’re a stupid little girl.” I hear a thump, and Ember winces. I peek out from my hiding spot, and see Ember sitting on the floor, her back against the wall. Flint glares at her, standing over her thin frame. He hurt her. I think, and start to step out of my hiding place. Someone beats me to it. 

Austin, on the other end of the hallway where Flint and Ember are, runs over to the two, shielding Ember from Flint. 

“Don’t hurt her,” He says quietly yet firmly, looking up. Flint groans and walks away, passing me, but hardly giving me a glance. Ember sits up stiffly, with Austin’s help. “Are you all right?” He asks, helping her up. 

“I think so,” She says, leaning against him for support. She looks up at his face, at his sandy-blonde hair and hazel eyes. “You don’t look like you’re from around here,” She points out, wobbling on her feet. 

“I’m not,” He says. “I’m from Stone.” 

“Oh,” She says. “That’s kind of cool.” She leans against the wall, and takes a deep breath. “I’m Ember.” 

“Austin,” He says with a smile. 

“Thanks for saving me,” She says, straightening her uniform and wiping tears from her bright blue eyes. 

“It’s fine,” He says, then looks in the direction that Flint left. “Who is he?” Ember was already bruised before now, I can see. 

“He’s my friend. Was. I don’t know.” She looks down, rubbing her arm, tears coming back into her eyes. Austin pats her shoulder, and she winces. He quickly takes his hand away. “I’m so sorry. I forgot you were hurt,” He says, flushing with embarrassment. She smiles for the first time. 

“It’s okay. I’ll be fine in a few minutes,” She says, stretching. Austin nods, and puts his hands down at his sides stiffly. She slowly starts to walk back down the hallway, but her legs collapse and she starts to fall. 

Austin appears at her side to catch her, putting his hand on her waist and holding her up. They gaze into each other’s eyes for a few long moments, then look away. 

“Okay, it seems I was wrong about that,” Ember says, flushing. Austin scoops her up in his arms and carries her with ease. 

“Where’s your room?” He asks, as she blushes redder. 

“Third floor,” She says quietly, putting her arms around his shoulders so she can hold on. He starts to walk towards the elevator, her legs dangling in the air. I smile to myself, and start walking back along the hallway, down to the basement. A guard points his weapon at me, and I point to the clock. 

“Visiting hours, right?” I say, holding my hands up.

“Itʼs still 2:58,” He says, blocking the door.

“Thatʼs two minutes,” I mutter.

“So you should be able to wait.” Do you have any idea how long those two minutes are going to be? I think, sitting down on the ground next to the door, sighing.